THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN PROPAGATING IBIBIO MUSICAL CULTURE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study employed historical and ethnographic approaches to examine the significant role played by Ibibio women to propagate and sustain their musical culture. The Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State occupy the South-South coast of Nigeria. They have a rich musical heritage which are preserved and passed down through oral traditions to the younger ones. The aim of this paper is to highlight the key roles played by women in propagating the musical culture of Ibibio and the challenges posed in the modern society. The data was obtained from primary and secondary sources through fieldwork and related works from journals and textbooks. Qualitative design method was applied whereby the researcher observed, participated and documented some facts on the musical practices of the women. It is discovered that, women played key roles in various musical activities including storytelling, ceremonial activities like marriages, funeral events and some cultural practices like new yam festivals and puberty rites. They use songs that tell stories of the community’s values, history and beliefs to ensure the preservation of the musical heritage. Although, those musical activities helped women to pass on knowledge and cultural practices from one generation to the next, during field study, it is found out that some musical/cultural practices performed in the olden times are gradually disappearing in Ibibio community, due to modernization, globalization and social dynamics. While some musical activities are still lingering on, some are innovated, and others are in extinct. Such inadequacies are the challenges that hinder the proper transmission of cultural heritage of Ibibio people. The Akwa Ibom State Governor during yuletide period in December, 2023, organized a festival to revive indigenous cultural/musical arts the people, this is highly commendable. Such musical display should be considered yearly, while the recording and storing of musical works in archives are recommended.